Monday's news summary, May 5, 2014

Frankie Flora from Poughkeepsie was back to Albany today to advocate for the Frankie Flora Bill, S.4629. He met with local lawmakers and held a press conference with Sen. Terry Gipson, D-Rhinebeck, and Senator Neil Breslin (D-Delmar), a co-prime sponsor of the legislation. "Frankie Flora is an inspirational young man who has turned a painful and tough part of his life into an opportunity to help others," said Gipson. "Frankie's Bill is common-sense legislation that will ensure that victims of dog bites are guaranteed the medical treatment they deserve. I commend Frankie for returning to Albany and I'm committed to continuing to advocate alongside him and his mother Maria." Gipson and Breslin introduced Frankie's Bill in the State Senate last year, four years to the day Frankie Flora was attacked by a dog leaving him severely injured. The bill would hold dog owners immediately liable the first time their dog bites someone. Under current state law, owners are only issued a warning and not held financially responsible when their dog first bites a person.

Come Oct. 3, the Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park will turn 5 years old. It might be hard to believe, but it wasn't very long ago that the iconic 212-feet-high, 1.28-mile-long tourist attraction and exercise hub was simply a decrepit railroad bridge, destroyed by fire in 1974, deteriorating for more than 30 years. Now, the Walkway — recognized as the world's longest elevated pedestrian bridge — attracts visitors from across the country and around the world. In 2013 alone, state officials estimate 709,000 visitors walked, biked or ran along the Walkway's 973 15-ton panels, spanning from Highland to the City of Poughkeepsie — the most since it opened in 2009. The use of the Walkway has expanded to include community fundraisers, fireworks and 5k races. And it is even the site of an annual attempt to break a Guinness World Record. The Walkway also has gone high-tech, adding a 36-stop mobile Web tour last year, accessed by scanning QR codes with a smartphone. The five years since the Walkway's grand opening have spurred great changes at the park's nonprofit arm, Walkway Over the Hudson, too, said Executive Director Elizabeth Waldstein-Hart. The mission has gone from "build a bridge" to a two-fold mission involving enhancing visitors' experiences and completing capital projects, she said.

The Hudson River last year gave up tires, a mattress, more tires, a television and other junk during the annual Riverkeeper Sweep. Volunteers are expecting more of the same during this year's cleanup, the third one organized by the Hudson's watchdog organization. But they also know they are helping change the perception of a river long thought of as a dumping ground. Carl Steiniger, a former commodore of the Cold Spring Kayak Club, now teaches the sport at the L.L. Bean store in Yonkers. He will oversee a cleanup at Croton Point Park. Steiniger said he has been pulling trash out of the river since the late 1990s, during organized events and as a paddler. "I've noticed a difference with it being cleaner and people being more aware of it," he said. That project will be one of almost 80 taking place Saturday along the river from Albany to New York City. Last year, participants removed 38 tons of garbage from the Hudson. Volunteers can find more information about the 2014 Sweep and sign up atwww.riverkeeper.org/sweep. Riverkeeper president Paul Gallay said the event enables residents "to take real action to protect and restore the Hudson and its tributaries."

The community will have a chance to meet the 11 candidates in the running for five open Wappingers Central School District board positions. The Wappingers district PTA Council will host a "Meet the Candidates" night for the group at Roy C. Ketcham High School, in the large group instruction room on May 12 at 7 p.m., according to district calendar information. The vote for the proposed budget, nearly $212 million, and board candidates is on May 20. Ketcham High School is located at 99 Myers Corners Road in Wappingers Falls.

SPORTS: A busy Monday for high school athletes is highlighted by Lourdes hosting Beacon on the baseball diamond and the Arlington softball team hosting defending Section 1 Class AA champion Carmel. Visit www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/sports for a complete schedule of Monday's events, and check often for score updates.

COMING TUESDAY: There are several proposals for casino/hotel/entertainment projects in Orange, Ulster and Sullivan counties following passage in November of a referendum allowing four gaming resorts in upstate New York. With at least one in each of three regions - Capital, Catskills/Hudson Valley and eastern Southern Tier, it's possible two of about 10 proposals for the Catskills/Hudson Valley area may go forward. Learn about the proposals in Tuesday's Journal.

WEATHER: It'll be partly cloudy tonight with the low near 38, according to the National Weather Service. Tuesday, expect partly sunny skies and a high of about 68.

To read the complete versions of these stories, click "Top stories" in the navigation of your iPhone or Android app or the Journal's mobile site, m.poughkeepsiejournal.com. You can also visit: www.PoughkeepsieJournal.com.